Public Advocate Letitia James announced a plan yesterday that would eliminate need from being a prerequisite for free or reduced lunch at all public schools, making school cafeterias the egalitarian utopia they were always meant to be. (As long as you don't see anything dystopian about students being forced to eat "lunch" at 9 a.m.)
In an announcement yesterday, James explained that because of the stigma and the bureaucratic nature of applying to receive free or reduced meals, many New York City students aren't applying for or receiving the free meals they are entitled to. In a statement, the Public Advocate's office reports that an estimated 250,000 income-eligible city students do not participate in the school lunch program. By making lunch free for all, the stigma of free meals would be lifted, and parents wouldn't have to fill out extra paperwork just to make sure their child is fed during the day.
"Every child should be guaranteed access to healthy food during the school day. We know that when children are hungry, they are less likely to be attentive in class. I have spoken with the administration regarding the need to explore resources that can pay for universal free lunch. Most significantly, we need to unlink school food to family income to make this program accessible to children citywide,” Public Advocate James said at a press conference.
According the Public Advocate's office, 81% of elementary school students eat school lunch, but that number drops to 61% by middle school, and 38% in high school, as students either neglect to get forms filled out by their parents, or try to hide their economic standing from their peers.
The plan would cost the city $20 million, with the cost of the free lunches being reimbursed by the federal government. In fact, because New York City doesn't turn away any children who request a free lunch in-person at a cafeteria, it will be receiving more accurate federal assistance by granting everyone the official right to a free lunch. Boston, Dallas, and Chicago already have similar policies.
